Water dispenser

ABSTRACT

A water dispenser including a water inlet system, a drinking water storage system, a heat-exchange water system, a refrigeration system, a heating system and a water outlet system is provided. The drinking water storage system connects the water inlet system. The refrigeration system connects the drinking water storage system and has a water cooling tank and a first thermoelectric element. The cooling side of the first thermoelectric element contacts the water cooling tank. The heating system connected the drinking water storage system has a low-temperature water heating tank and a second thermoelectric element. A heating side of the second thermoelectric element contacts the low-temperature water heating tank. The heat-exchange system connects the water inlet system, a heating side of the first thermoelectric element and a cooling side of the second thermoelectric element. The water outlet system connects the refrigeration system and the heating system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 100130089, filed on Aug. 23, 2011. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The technical field relates to a water dispenser.

2. Background

In general, commercial water dispensers were divide into two categories based on different temperature control functions: one is hot-warm type, second is hot-warm and cold type. Based on the custom, the temperature of drinking water is roughly divided into three different ranges. The cold water ranged from 4 to 8° C., the warm water ranged from room temperature to 50° C., and the hot water temperature ranged from 50 to 95° C. For the conventional water dispenser, the water heated by heater and cooled by compressor. There are many drawbacks of this type water dispenser including heating efficiency, using not environment-friendly refrigerant, high weight, large volume, issue of noise and vibration.

Some of the new type water dispensers use thermoelectric element to generate cold water. When heating or refrigeration, it relies only on the heat energy transfer of electrical carriers within the thermoelectric element and lack of mechanical moving devices. The system has higher stability and lower maintenance requirement, therefore has a great potential of application on small home appliances. When using the thermoelectric element for heating, a heat-exchange mechanism of the cooling side should also be designed. The air heat-exchanger comprised a heat sink at the cooling side of the thermoelectric element and a fan system drive flow to dissipate the heat. But, the air heat-exchange system has inherently lower heat-exchange efficiency than fluid heat-exchange system. Both of the two side of thermoelectric element directly attach to the water cooling tank and the water heating tank, so when being functional the thermoelectric element may heat up drinking water in the hot water tank and lower the temperature of drinking water in the water cooling tank in the same time. Nevertheless, the unbalanced refrigeration and heating requirement at the two sides of one thermoelectric chip would cause the thermoelectric element to dysfunction; therefore, no actual product is currently being launched in the market yet.

SUMMARY

One of exemplary embodiments comprises the water dispenser including a water inlet system, a drinking water storage system, a heat-exchange water system, a refrigeration system, a heating system, and a water outlet system. The drinking water storage system connects with the water inlet system. The refrigeration system, which includes a water cooling tank and a first thermoelectric element, connects with the drinking water storage system. A cooling side of the first thermoelectric element contacts the water cooling tank. There are two temperature stages of water heating system. The first temperature stage water heating tank and a second thermoelectric element connects with the drinking water storage system. The heating side of the second thermoelectric element contacts with the first stage water heating tank. The heat-exchange system connects the water inlet system, a heating side of the first thermoelectric element and a cooling side of the second thermoelectric element. The water outlet system connects the heating system and the refrigeration system.

Several exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below to further describe the disclosure in details.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a water dispenser.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the water dispenser having a water purification system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first thermoelectric element in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another schematic diagram illustrating the first thermoelectric element in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a water dispenser. Refer to FIG. 1, the embodiment of the water dispenser 1000 comprises a water inlet system 1100, a drinking water storage system S12, a heat-exchange water system 1200, a refrigeration system 1300, a heating system 1400, and a water outlet system 1500. The drinking water storage system S12 connects with the water inlet system 1100. The refrigeration system 1300, which includes a water cooling tank 1320 and a first thermoelectric element 1310, connects with the drinking water storage system S12. A cooling side of the first thermoelectric element 1310 directly contacts the water cooling tank 1320. The heating system 1400, which includes a low-temperature water heating tank 1420 and a second thermoelectric element 1410, connects with the drinking water storage system S12. A heating side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 directly contacts the low-temperature water heating tank 1420. The heat-exchange water system 1200 for the first and second thermoelectric elements 1310 and 1410 connects with the water inlet system 1100 and also connects to the heating side of the first thermoelectric element 1310 and the cooling side of the second thermoelectric element 1410. The water outlet system 1500 connects the heating system 1400 and the refrigeration system 1300.

In the embodiment of the water dispenser 1000, the cooling side of the first thermoelectric element 1310 contacts the cooling water tank 1320 of the refrigeration system 1300, the heating side (heat dissipation side) of the first thermoelectric element 1310 connects with the heat-exchange water system 1200, and subsequently the first thermoelectric element 1310 maintains normal function through using cooling water supplied by the heat-exchange water system 1200 to remove heat from the heating side (heat dissipation side). Therefore, the first thermoelectric element 1310 may sustainably and steadily cool the water inside the water cooling tank 1320. In addition, the cooling side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 also connects with the heat-exchange water system 1200, and the second thermoelectric element 1410 maintains normal function through using cooling water supplied by the heat-exchange water system 1200 to provide heat to the cooling side of the second thermoelectric element 1410. With the heating side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 contacting the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 of the heating system 1400, the second thermoelectric element 1410 may sustainably and steadily heat the water of low-temperature water heating tank 1420 of the heating system 1400 to produce hot water. Since the refrigeration system 1300 and the heating system 1400 have independent thermoelectric elements and heat-exchange devices, the heating capability of the heating system 1400 is not affected by the action of the refrigeration system 1300. On the other hand, the cooling capability of the refrigeration system 1300 is not affected even if a great amount of hot water is taken from the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 of the heating system 1400.

Accordingly, the embodiment of the water dispenser 1000 may maintain a steady supply of hot and ice water and also produce warm water by mixing hot water with ice water. Furthermore, the thermoelectric element has superior heat-exchange efficiency than an electrical heater and a compressor in low noise, no mechanical wear, and environmental compliance. By properly regulating the temperature of the cooling water of the heat-exchange water system 1200, the first thermoelectric element 1310 and the second thermoelectric element 1410 can conduct heating and refrigeration at the same time with good system efficiency.

The embodiment of the water inlet system 1100 connects water source with water inlet 1120, a pure water inlet 1110 and a drainage outlet 1130. However, in other embodiments, the water inlet system may also comprise one or more types of water inlet and drainage outlet. The embodiment of the heating system 1400 has a second thermoelectric element 1410, a low-temperature water heating tank 1420, a high-temperature water heating tank 1430, and an immersion-type electrical heater 1440. The embodiment of the heat-exchange water system 1200 has a cooling water reservoir 1210. The embodiment of the water outlet system 1500 has a cold water control valve 1530, a warm water control valve 1520 and a hot water control valve 1510; nevertheless, other embodiment of the water outlet system may also has only two or more water outlets. The cold water control valve 1530 connects with the water cooling tank 1320. The embodiment of the water dispenser 1000 further has a water purification system 1600, a plurality of water pumps 1700, a plurality of pipelines 1800, a plurality of control valves 1900, a plurality of level monitors 1910, and a plurality of temperature sensors 1920. The control valves 1900 control the water flow through the water passage, and the water pumps 1700. The following descriptions below show the connections between the aforementioned components as well as the detailed structure for some of the components.

The outside purified water inlet 1110 connects to the drinking water storage system S12 through the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900 Imported water flowing through the water inlet 1110 has been purification before drove into the water dispenser 1000. Imported water inlet 1120 directly connects to the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 through the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900. The imported water inlet 1120 connects the water purification system 1600 through the pipelines 1800. The imported water inlet 1120 connects the cold water reservoir 1210 with the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900. The imported water inlet 1120 connects to the drinking water storage system S12 through the pipelines 1800. Water imports into the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 may replenish heat-exchange cooling water and also adjust the water temperature. The drainage outlet 1130 connects to the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210, the water cooling tank 1320 and the high-temperature water heating tank 1430 with the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900 for evacuating water within the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210, the water cooling tank 1320 and the high-temperature water heating tank 1430 in order to facilitate cleaning and transportation.

The water purification system 1600 locates between the water inlet system 1100 and the heat-exchange water system 1200, and connect with pipelines. The water purification system 1600 may be a reverse osmosis system or other types of the water purification system. The embodiment of the water purification system 1600 is a three pieces reverse osmosis drinking water purifier comprising a cotton filter 1610, a reverse osmosis filter 1620 and a postposition activated carbon filter 1630. Imported water is transported to the cotton filter 1610 to filter out sand and gravel and then through the control valves 1900 into the reverse osmosis filter 1620 to filter out the bacteria, compounds and heavy metals. Herein the control valves 1900 is used to control water storage within the system. Lastly, a drinking water purification process is completed with an odor removal through the postposition activated carbon filter. Some waste water generated by the water filtration through the reverse osmosis filter 1620 is transported to the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210.

The water purification system 1600 in FIG. 1 may be replaced by the water purification system 2600 in FIG. 2. The water purification system 2600 comprises a cotton filter 2610, an activated carbon filter 2620, a small pore size cotton filter 2630, a reverse osmosis filter 2640, and a postposition activated carbon filter 2650. Imported water filters out the impurities through the cotton filter 2610, the activated carbon filter 2620 and the small pore size cotton filter 2630, is pressurized into the reverse osmosis filter 2640 by a water pump 1700, and is further transported into the postposition activated carbon filter 2650 for odor removal, thus completing a much purified drinking water purification process.

The heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 is for storing waste water generated by the water purification system 1600 or water imported by the inlet 1120. The level monitor 1950 is for detecting the water level within the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 and controlling the control valves 1900 to timely replenish and drain water. The temperature sensor 1920 is for detecting the water temperature within the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210. The control valves 1900 are activated to drain high temperature water and replenish low temperature water when the water temperature is too high.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the drinking water storage system S12 separated from the water cooling tank 1320 by an integral orifice plate 1322. The drinking water storage system S12, which is for storing purified drinking water, connects the water purification system 1600 with the pipelines 1800. The drinking water storage system S12 also connects with the pure water inlet 1110 through the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900 for importing purified drinking water that has been processed before entering the water dispenser 1000. The water cooling tank 1320 is for storing cold water. The integral orifice plate 1322 contains many holes for connecting with the drinking water storage system S12 and with the water cooling tank 1320, in order to facilitate the replenishment of water into the water cooling tank 1320, and it may be used as a thermal insulation layer for preventing the thermal convection from affecting the water temperature distribution during cooling by the water cooling tank 1320. The level monitor 1910 is for detecting the water level of the drinking water storage system S12 and further regulating the water level of the drinking water storage system S12 with the opening and closing of the control valves 1900. The drinking water storage system S12 has a water replenishment cover plate 1324 capable of being opened for adding external drinking water as well as being closed for protecting the purity of drinking water within the drinking water storage system S12. The drinking water storage system S12 connects with the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 through the pipelines 1800 so as to let the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 to have replenishment of drinking water for heating and to share the level monitor 1910 of the drinking water storage system S12 for saving the number of parts. The pipelines 1800 that connects the drinking water storage system S12 with the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 also connects the warm water control valve 1520 for providing warm water.

The first thermoelectric element 1310 is attached at the water cooling tank 1320. Refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the embodiment of the first thermoelectric element 1310 comprises a base plate 1312, at least one thermoelectric chip 1314, a cover plate 1316, and a seal ring 1318. The embodiment of the disclosure involves two thermoelectric chips 1314 for example, but it may be one or more. Moreover, in FIG. 3 two perspectives of the base plate 1312 are shown at the same time for simple illustration, but it is in fact just one base plate 1312. The base plate 1312 has a first surface 1312A and a second surface 1312B opposite to each other. The second surface 1312B has first flow interference channels 1312C. The thermoelectric chip 1314 is installed on the first surface 1312A of the base plate 1312 to have directly contact with the water cooling tank 1320. The cover plate 1316 is assembled onto the second surface 1312B of the base plate 1312. A surface of the cover plate 1316, which faces the second surface 1312B, has second flow interference channels 1316A. The cover plate 1316 also has a water inlet 1316B and a water outlet 1316C connecting with the heat-exchange water system 1200. The seal ring 1318 is installed between the cover plate 1316 and the base plate 1312. Materials for the base plate 1312 and the cover plate 1316 are better with high thermal conductivity such as copper or alumina. The base plate 1312 and the cover plate 1316 may be fixed using screw or other means. The seal ring 1318 is used to seal the space between the cover plate 1316 and the base plate 1312 to prevent cooling water from overflow. The first flow interference channels 1312C and the second flow interference channels 1316A may increase the fluctuation of cooling water so as to increase the heat-exchange efficiency.

The base plate 1312, the cover plate 1316 and the inside cooling water processes the heat-exchange with the heating side of the thermoelectric chip 1314 to avoid the high temperature caused failure of the thermoelectric chip 1314. In normal operation condition, the temperature of the water cooling tank 1320 is decreased by the thermoelectric chip 1314. The water temperature within in the water cooling tank 1320 is monitored by the temperature sensor 1920 and control the on or off of the thermoelectric chip 1314. The water inlet 1316B connects with the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 through the water pump 1700, the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900 to import heat-exchange water. The water outlet 1316C connects with the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 through the pipelines 1800 to export cooling water to the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 for recycling.

The second thermoelectric element 1410 is attached to the exterior of the low-temperature water heating tank 1420. The construction of the second thermoelectric element 1410 is same as the first thermoelectric element 1310, thus no additional illustration is provided herein. The cooling side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 connects with the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 through the water pump 1700, the pipelines 1800 and the control valves 1900. Increasing the temperature of the cooling side of the second thermoelectric element 1410, it enhanced the heating efficiency of the second thermoelectric element 1410. In normal operation, the heating effect may be achieved by using the heating side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 to increase the temperature of the low-temperature water heating tank 1420. The cooling side of the second thermoelectric element 1410 is also connects the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 with the pipelines 1800. The heat-exchange water was export to the heat-exchange water reservoir 1210 for recycling. The water temperature within in the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 is monitored by the temperature sensor 1920 and control the on or off of the thermoelectric chip 1314. The control valves 1900 and the pipelines 1800 connect the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 and the high-temperature water heating tank 1430 for replenishing drinking water within the high-temperature water heating tank 1430. The low-temperature water heating tank 1420 has a pressure relief valve 1422 for balancing the pressure within the low-temperature water heating tank 1420.

The high-temperature water heating tank 1430 is the second heating stage after hot water produced from the low-temperature water heating tank 1420. The immersion-type electrical heater 1440 is disposed in the high-temperature water heating tank 1430 as the heat source. As the heating performance coefficient of the second thermoelectric element 1410 is less than 1.0, the immersion-type electrical heater 1440 will use to obtain higher temperature hot water. The temperature sensor 1920 is configured within the high-temperature water heating tank 1430 to control the on or off of the immersion-type electrical heater 1440. The level monitor 1910 is also configured within the high-temperature water heating tank 1430 to control the opening or closing of the control valves 1900 that are connected with the low-temperature water heating tank 1420. The heating system 1400 further has a pressure equalizing pipe 1450 for example. The pressure equalizing pipe 1450 connects with the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 and the high-temperature water heating tank 1430 so as to use the pressure relief valve 1422 of the low-temperature water heating tank 1420 to balance the pressure within the high-temperature water heating tank 1430. The high-temperature water heating tank 1430 connects with the hot water control valve 1510 through the pipelines 1800 in order to provide hot water.

Generally, in the disclosure of the water dispenser, the refrigeration system and the heating system use each of the thermoelectric elements to conduct refrigeration and heating processes independently; furthermore, the refrigeration system and the heating system also share the heat-exchange water system, thus maintaining a steady and excellent temperature control of drinking water.

Although the disclosure is disclosed as above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A water dispenser comprising: a water inlet system; a drinking water storage system connecting the water inlet system; a refrigeration system connecting the drinking water storage system and having a water cooling tank and a first thermoelectric element, wherein a cooling side of the first thermoelectric element contacts the water cooling tank; a heating system connecting the drinking water storage system and having a low-temperature water heating tank and a second thermoelectric element, wherein a heating side of the second thermoelectric element contacts the low-temperature water heating tank; a heat-exchange water system for the first and second thermoelectric elements, wherein the heat-exchange water system connects the water inlet system, a heating side of the first thermoelectric element and a cooling side of the second thermoelectric element; and a water outlet system connecting the heating system and the refrigeration system.
 2. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a water purification system connecting between the water inlet system and the drinking water storage system.
 3. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the water purification system is a reverse osmosis system.
 4. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the water inlet system has a raw water inlet connecting the water purification system.
 5. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water inlet system has a drainage outlet connecting the heat-exchange water system.
 6. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water inlet system has a pure water inlet connecting the drinking water storage system.
 7. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water outlet system has a cold water control valve connecting the water cooling tank.
 8. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drinking water storage system compartmentally connecting the water cooling tank by an integral orifice plate.
 9. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water outlet system has a hot water control valve connecting the low-temperature water heating tank.
 10. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating system further includes a high-temperature water heating tank and an immersion-type electrical heater; the high-temperature water heating tank connects the low-temperature water heating tank and the immersion-type electrical heater is disposed in the high-temperature water heating tank.
 11. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heating system further has a pressure equalizing pipe connecting the low-temperature water heating tank and the high-temperature water heating tank, and the low-temperature water heating tank having a pressure relief valve.
 12. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the low-temperature water heating tank has a pressure relief valve.
 13. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water outlet system has a warm water control valve connecting the drinking water storage system.
 14. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first thermoelectric element comprises: a base plate having a first surface and a second surface in relative; the second surface has first flow interference channels; at least one thermoelectric chip installed on the first surface of the base plate; a cover plate assembled onto the second surface of the base plate, the surface of the cover plate that faces the second surface of the base plate having second flow interference channels, and the cover plate also having a water inlet and a water outlet connecting the heat-exchange water system; and a seal ring installed between the cover plate and the base plate.
 15. The water dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second thermoelectric element comprises: a base plate having a first surface and a second surface in relative; the second surface has first flow interference channels; at least one thermoelectric chip installed on the first surface of the base plate; a cover plate assembled onto the second surface of the base plate, the surface of the cover plate that faces the second surface of the base plate having second flow interference channels, and the cover plate also having a water inlet and a water outlet connecting the heat-exchange water system; and a seal ring installed between the cover plate and the base plate. 